minutes.I think Im too good to be playing eight minutes, he said. T

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- DJ Durkin knows exactly what is expected from him in his first season as Marylands head coach.Improving upon last years 3-9 record is a good starting place. Being relevant in the Big Ten is certainly a goal.Mostly, its about providing a measure of hope for a program that never fulfilled expectations under Randy Edsall, who went 22-34 with the Terrapins before being fired six games into the 2015 season.Hired in December, the 37-year-old Durkin is the youngest Maryland head coach since 1954. The former defensive coordinator at Michigan launches a new era on Saturday at home against Howard.I really feel that we have a talented enough team to go play well this year. What equals that, I dont know, Durkin said. I think fans and media equate it to wins and losses. For us, obviously we know the game is about winning.Howard, which went 1-10 last year, probably wont provide the Terps with steep competition. But the game will provide a glimpse of what Durkin accomplished during a tough summer camp.Most of all, Durkin will get a chance to see if the team can play defense the way the Wolverines did under his direction. A year ago, Maryland yielded 413 points.The guys have been filled with a lot of energy, defensive coordinator Andy Buh said, Im really pleased with how their progress has been in the defense.---Some things to know about the Howard-Maryland matchup:PERRYS BACK: New offense, same quarterback. Fifth-year senior Perry Hills returns as a starter, looking to pile up points and cut down on his turnovers. Hills ran for 535 yards and threw eight touchdown passes last year, but he also was intercepted 13 times. He emerged as the winner in a competition during the summer, in part because he proved to the best at being mistake-free. All the things that hes going to have to bring to the table outside of his skills, hes done the best job of taking care of the football, offensive coordinator Walt Bell said. Hes done the best job in terms of mastery of the offensive, operating the line of scrimmage, eliminating a lot of the unforced errors.LIKELY TO SUCCEED: Senior William Likely is widely considered to be the best athlete on the team, and the Terrapins intend to take advantage of that quality. Likely will return kicks, play in the defensive backfield and occasionally line up as a wide receiver. If a guy can play and help us somewhere, were going to use him, Durkin said. Likely started at cornerback last year but also ran the ball 11 times, caught five passes, returned 23 punts and took back 35 kickoffs.EXPERIENCE BEHIND CENTER: Howard quarterback Kalen Johnson threw for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Hes also capable of tucking the football and running downfield. Hes a dual threat, Durkin said. He can create plays with his feet and throw the ball.BACKFIELD IN MOTION: Senior Ty Johnson stands atop the depth chart at running back, but Durkin intends to shuffle several players at the position on game day. We have three or four guys that you could make a case for to be the starter, Durkin said. Ty worked really hard and earned the opportunity to be our starter. But well have a good rotation going at that position.CLOSE BY, BUT STILL STRANGERS: This will be the first football game between Maryland and Howard, even though the schools are separated by only 7 + miles. Maryland last played a school based in the nations capital in 1955, when it beat George Washington 19-0. Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Cheap Nike Air Max 2018 . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. http://www.windrew.com/nike-react-hyperdunk-2017-flyknit-men-s-basketball-shoes-navy-blue-white.html . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Balenciaga Speed Trainer Knit Mens/Womens High Runner Red/White Sale . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Best Price Mens Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 Flyknit Red/White . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. PHILADELPHIA -- Joel Embiid took some inspiration from a 76ers great.Embiid scored 17 of his career-high 33 points in the third quarter and hit a pair of crucial free throws with 12.5 seconds left to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Brooklyn Nets 108-107 on Sunday night in a matchup of two of the leagues worst teams.Embiid added 10 rebounds and also dived over the first row in an effort to save a loose ball, a hustle play that thrilled Philadelphias gritty fans. A leading Rookie of the Year candidate, Embiid said plays like that are modeled after Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, who the 76ers honored during Friday nights game against the Lakers.A.I. kind of helped me with that, Embiid said. It was like, `Play like its your last game. Thats what I think Ive been doing. Im sorry for that person. I think I stepped on his shoulder. Im sorry, but Im going to give my all every time Im on the court.Embiid was 12 for 17 from the field, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc, and 7 for 8 from the free-throw line.He wanted to dominate the game, Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said.Ersan Ilyasova had 22 points for the 76ers, who snapped an eight-game home losing streak while winning for the third time in 13 games.Brook Lopez had 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Nets, who lost their ninth in a row on the road.We just couldnt get over the hump, Lopez said. I dont know if theres that much analysis to it.The Sixers (7-20) and Nets (7-19) are tied with Dallas and Minnesota for the fewest wins in the league.Philadelphia scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to take its largest lead, 94-86, with 9:09 remaining on Ilyasovas long jumper. Embiid, restricted to 28 minutes by the team, went to the bench at the tail end of the run. He re-entered with 4 1/2 minutes left and Philadelphia clinging to a 97-96 lead.Lopezs drive gave the Nets a 98-97 lead before Embiids 3-pointer from atop the key ended a nearly five-minute field goal drought and put Philadelphia in front 100-98 with 2:43 left.Lin later stripped Embiid with the Nets down by one, but Brooklyn failed on two attempts to go ahead -- Trevor Booker missed a 3-pointer and Sean Kilpatrick misfired on a short jumper.Embiid got thee rebound, was fouled and made both free throws with 12.dddddddddddd5 seconds left to give the 76ers a 104-101 lead. Lins tying 3-point attempt went off the rim.Lin, playing in his eighth game of an injury-riddled season, had 16 points.Joe Harris tied his career high with 19 points for the Nets.I like our competitive spirit, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. Thats been us all year. Were a team that fights and competes. Down the road, I think its going to pay off, that attitude and grit.EMBIID, OKAFOR STARTEmbiid and Jahlil Okafor started alongside each other for the third straight game. After saying Saturday that incorporating three big men -- Embiid, Okafor and Nerlens Noel -- into the lineup together would be an extreme challenge, Brown said before Sundays game that Noel only would play if Embiid or Okafor got in foul trouble.Okafor went 0 for 10 from the field with three points but had 11 rebounds.NOEL BENCHEDNoel complained about the crowded situation following Fridays 100-89 loss to the Lakers in which he scored two points in eight minutes.I think Im too good to be playing eight minutes, he said. Thats crazy. They need to figure this (stuff) out.Browns solution was to bench a healthy Noel, who missed the first 23 games while recovering from offseason knee surgery.He hasnt been part of us, Brown said. I dont believe at this moment (playing Noel) is best for our team.In his 2 1/2-year career, Noel has averaged 10.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game. He didnt appear at all against the Nets.TIP-INSNets: Lopez played in his 511th game with the Nets, moving into fourth on the franchises career list. ... Brooklyn is 1-12 on the road this season.76ers: Nik Stauskas (left knee soreness) didnt play. ... Philadelphia shot 12 for 28 (42.9 percent) from 3-point range.UP NEXTNets: Look to end a four-game losing streak to the Raptors when they cap a three-game trip on Tuesday night in Toronto.76ers: End a four-game homestand on Tuesday night, looking for their second win this season over New Orleans after beating the Pelicans 99-88 on Dec. 8. ' ' '